Distillation or like column



Aug. 5, 1930. A. KUHN.

DISTILLATION 0R LIKE, COLUMN Filed March 15, 1926 z anoanl o'a:

Patented Aug. 5, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR KUHN, OFRECKLINGHAUSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRM CARL STILL, OFRECKLINGHAUSEN, GERMANY l DISTILLATION R LIKE COLUMN.

Application filed March 15, 1926, Serial No. 94,891,'an d in- GreatBritain March 24, 1925.

This invention relates broadly to means for securing together separateparts of distillation and like columns and specifically for securing theplates within the casings and the vapor distributing hoods to theplates.

Heretofore, these-plates have been secured within the column casings bybolts and packings, which packings consisted of sulphur or mixtures ofsulphur, asbestos talc and sodlum silicate, which became brittle andcracked thus leaving spaces where leakage took place. Also" wheresim'lar packings were employed without the use of bolts the brittlenessmade the connection between the parts very lnsecure and lacking indurability.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a simple,inexpensive and eificient connection between the several parts to beconnected and specifically between the plates and the column casings andthe vapor distributing hoods and the plates which is extremely rigid andwhich'is suiiiciently tight to practically prevent leakage.

Another object of the invention isthe provision of a connection betweenthe separate parts to be connected, which is extremely rigid and yetwhich may be readily removed in case it becomes necessary to separatethe connected parts.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the following specificdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this application and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through aportion of adistillation column constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view, and

Fig. 3 is a detail of Fig. 1 in an enlarged scale. t

Referring more particularly to the drawing arepresents a sin le ringforming a portion of a casingof a 'istillation column and within saidring arelocated the'two plates 1) having'mounted thereon the bell-shapedvapor distributing hoods 0 covering the vapor inlets d. The plates 12are provided, as is usual, with overflow outlets e which are located inalternate plates adjacent the periphery and at the center thereof. Asmallholez' in each plate 5 serves for automaticallyemptying the columnat the end of the process.

In the ring or casing a I have shown vertically spaced inwardlyextendingflanges f, f the latter of which is somewhat narrower than theformer so as to permit the lower plate to pass and rest upon the flangef. Each flange f, f is provided upon its upper face with a rabbet, theinner vertical wall of which being undercut as shown for a purpose whichwill be clearly apparent from whatfollows.

The plates b rest upon the lower horizontal wall of the'rabbet and areprovided with bevelled edges, as shown, which coact with the innervertical wall of the rabbet and the lower horizontal wall of the rabbetto form a substantially frusto-triangular or dove tail shaped groove,wider at its base than at the upper open portion of the same. (See Fig.3

In constructing the plates 6 and the rabbeted flanges f, f the lowerperipherical edge of the plates are just sufliciently smaller than theupper edge of the vertical wall of the rabbet to pass the same, but theangle of the bevel on the periphery of the plates is not as great as theangle of the undercut of the inner wall of the rabbet. The groove mthus-formed is substantially frusto-triangular and is filled with somesuitable calkin material, such for instance, as molten lea solid leadwire'or lead wool, which may be subsequently firmly packed into thegroove m by the use of any preferred type of calking tool.

In order to couple the bell-shaped vapor distributing hoods 0 to theplates, there is formed upon the upper surface of each plate, in sets ofthree, triangularly disposed lugs 70 having an undercut rear wall whichcoacts with the bevelled outer edges of the feet h, formed on the hoods,to produce a groove n similar to the groove m which holds the packingfor connecting the plates to the column casing. The lugs 70 are alsoprovided with parallel extensions is extending forwardly from the rearwall between which the feet h are disposed and which serve to preventleakage of the molten metal, in case such is used, or undue expansion ofthe packing material when being calked into the groove. By connectingthe parts as above described, it will be seen that I have provided avery rigid and permanent connection which avoids the use of screws,bolts and similar connecting means which are liable to come loose andthus permit leaks which would be detrimental to the process. If,however, it is desirable to disconnect either the hoods from the platesor theplates from the casing the calked metal may be removed bymechanical means or may be brought to a state of fluidity by theapplication of heat which will permit of the ready separation of theconnected parts. What I claim is:

1. Means for securing together separate parts of distillation and likecolumns comprising a support, a vertically disposed wall rising from thesupport and being undercut, a member resting on the support and havingthe edge presented to the wall bevelled, so as to coact with theundercut to produce a groove, the inclination of the undercut and thebevelled edge being in the same general direction, and calking metalfilling said groove.

2. In a means for securing together separate parts of distillation andlike columns, the combination with a partition plate, opposed lugsrising therefrom each provided with undercut shoulders, a vapor hoodarranged between said lugs and having means coacting with said shouldersto produce tapered grooves, and calking metal filling said thecombination with a partition pl'ate hav ing a vapor collar thereon, aplurality of lugs arranged around said collar each having an undercutshoulder terminated by parallel extensions, a vapor hood arranged overthe collarand between said lugs, and projections on said hood havinginclined faces coacting with said shoulders to produce substantiallytrapezoidal grooves, and calking metal fill-

